Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-04-21
INTERSTATE COMMERCE..
Representatives OF the vario1s Railroads
and Steamboat Lines Appear Before
the Commissioners.
WASHINGTON. Anril oO

"AshiSGION, April ~.
Geo. A. Torrey, attorney of the Fitchburu
railroad, addressed the inter State commerce
commission today. He exhibited the mans
OF his line and photographs of the immense
wharf and elevator property of the COMPANY.
~hich would become useless if former priyil.
eges were not restored.
John Whitmore. general traffic manager of
the Fltchburg road. stated to the commission
under oath the difficulties of doing an export
business under other than the old methods.
one OF these was found in the fact that ocean
Irelghts varied from week to week. vet
through rates could not be changed by rail-
roads without giving notice in advance. The
fHchourg company was eatirely dependent
on Boston traffic for its prosperity. and for
this reason was perhaps more deenlv inter-
ested than other companies represented here.
John Portouse, general traffic manager OF
the Grand Trunk, representing on this occa.
SION the Central Vermont and Boston & Low
ell roads, addressed the commission. These
lines had about 1000 tons of freight per day
TOR export besides large traffic of various
Kinds from Canada and the west for the coast
wise trade. He explained the mode OF billing
export traffic substantially as his predeces-
sofs mad done, If they were refused the
privilege OF making rebate, New York
WIN thS SApOlt anu CCdSIlng
trade.
A representative of the Boston agents
the Cunard and Allan steamship lines testi.
fed that already much trans-Atlantic busi.
mess for their lines had been diverted from
Boston to New York.
Hon. Alden Speare said New England had
larger proportion of the manufactures than
any part of the Union. Much of the material
used was imported. As David A. Wells had
recently said, New England had manufacto-
rles but raised nothing she used. Her cotton
came from the south, her food from the
west. He alluded in general terms to the
extent of railroad interests involved, and
read series of resolutions adopted bv the
association he represents
Chas ID. Berry, representing the firm of
shippers of which he is a member. stated that
his firm was engaged largely in the Austral-
ian trades. Since the law went into effect
they had not been able to secure cargoes as
favorably as before. If no relief was afford
ed the firm would move to New York.
Chas. II. North, representing the packing
interests, described the operations in that line
carried on in Boston. Under the present ar
rangements the business couldn't be contn.
ued, The export packing trade of Boston is
auout $l5,OO0,0OO year.
not for one class alone but for all citizens of
New England. Justice should be done to all
classes
During the progress of the hearing the
commission questioned the speakers and wit
nesses at length with regard to the various
details OF the subject, but no expression of
opinion was made on the part of the commits
sioners themselves to indicate their own
views.
Inquiries ELECTED nothing beyond the sug-
geslions already referred to.
During the progress of one of these inqui.
ries the chairman remarked that If the law
forbade rebates, the commission had no pow
er to suspend or waive legal provision.
So far as they go these inquiries accord
with the already expressed purpose OF the
commission to leave the Interpretation of the
law primarily to the railroad companies
themselves, and confine its own operations
to the hearing of complaints of violations of
the law and passing upon them.